Vaginal dilator



(No Model.)

H. G. FARR.

VAGINAL DILATOR.

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HIRAM G. FARR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VAGINAL DILATAOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,611, dated April 28,1885.

Application filed September 24, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM G. FARR, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Combined Vaginal Dilator and Irrigator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my vaginal dilator and 'irrigator in a position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dilator closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the center of the dilator closed Fig. 4, section of the tip of the irrigator enlarged.

The walls of the vagina in its normal condition are disposed in folds and come into contact with each other, and when it is desirable or necessary to irrigate and cleanse the same the operation cannot be effectually performed by a syringe without first expand ing the vagina by separating its walls and smoothing out or removing its folds. I am not aware of any devices in use which will satisfactorily accomplish the desired end.

My invention consists in a pair of arms having their lower ends secured together or to a connection in such manner that one or both arms are capable of being moved outwardly by the application of a conical syringe-tip thereto, one or more apertures being provided at or near the lower ends of the arms for the insertion of the said syringe-tip, by which the outward movement of the arm or arms is accomplished, a wide opening being formed between the sides of each arm for the uninterrupted passage to the walls of the vagina of the liquid sprays as they issue from the syringe.

In the said drawings, a I) represent two arms, preferably of spring-wire or strips of metal, each bent as shown, and nickel or silver plated to prevent corrosion. The lower ends of the arm a are permanently secured to a cross-piece, A, having a cylindrical opening, 0, through its center, in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cross-piece. The lower ends of the arm I) are bent around within grooves in the ends of the cross-piece A at points outside the junction of the ends of the arm a therewith, the aforesaid connection of the arm I) with the cross-piece being loosely made, so as to form pivots on which the arm I) is free to be moved. At a short distance above the cross piece A the two portions of each arm pass through a small cross-bar, B, the inner side of each bar being cut away or having a depression formed therein, in order that when the two arms are closed together the center of the opening d, formed by the two depressions, will be located in a line with the axis of the opening 0, and permit the insertion of a conical or tapering syringe pipe tip, 0, in a direction with the longitudinal center of the dilator or distender, the continued movement upward of the conical tip between the cross-bars B 13 serving to separate the pivoted or movable arm I) an increasing distance from the fixed arm a.

When the dilator or distender is closed (see Fig. 2) previous to its entrance in the vagina, the length of the pivoted arm I) is slightly less than the fixed arm a, the middle curved portion 6 of the arm I) closing into or under the middle curved portion 6 of the arm a, in which position the dilator may be inserted in the vagina, after which the conical tip of the syringe may be entered through the cross-piece A and between the crossbars B B, by which operation the movable arm I) is pressed outwardly from the fixed arm, expanding the vagina and removing its folds, as required, when the liquid is made to impinge on the entire surface of the vaginal walls. (See Figs. 1 and 4:.) The passages through the conical tip are made in three directions, to insure the effectual cleansing of the vagina-viz., a series of horizontal passages, h, a series of passages, t, inclined upward and outward, and a series of passages, is, inclined downward and outward, (see Fig. 4,) the several passages being so made that no two sprays or streams come into contact. I

Instead of one arm only being pivoted to the cross-piece A, both arms may be so pivoted, if desired.

I claim- A vaginal dilator consisting of two arms, a b, with their cross-bars B B and connecting crosspiece A provided with openings d c, in combination with a syringe having a conical tip for moving one or both arms outwardly, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Witness my hand this 2d day of September,

HIRAM G. FARR.

In presence of-- N. W. STEARNS, H. W. STEARNS. 

